Gene Wilder death: How the Willy Wonka actor turned down James Corden's The Late Late Show

'I don’t do or go where you were hoping, but I’ll be looking for you'

Gene Wilder’s death at the age of 83 came as a shock to many people, another icon taken from us in 2016.

Best known as the star of Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory and multiple Mel Brooks comedies, the actor passed away late Sunday night, his family publicly announcing the news on Monday.

Many celebrities paid tribute to the star soon after, the likes of Jim Carrey, Stephen Fry, and Ben Stiller paying tribute on Twitter, while multiple late night hosts in the US shared stories about him.

James Corden shared a rather brilliant anecdote about the time Wilder rejected his advances to appear on his The Late Late Show.

The story follows that the pair were sitting backstage in New York when they began chatting, Wilder interested in how Corden’s family were adjusting to the Big Apple.

That meeting left the door open for Corden reaching out to Wilder, asking him to appear on the very first The Late Late Show.

The response was rather brilliant.

“Dearest James,

I don’t do or go where you were hoping, but I’ll be looking for you.

With my love,

Gene”

Even when off screen, Wilder’s words were rather magical. The final opening segment ended up being entirely Willy Wonka themed; watch below.

Relive Gene Wilder’s nightmarish ride from classic the film here.